unwieldy
adjective
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The Difference Between Wieldy and Unwieldy
The verb to wield means "to handle or exert something effectively." A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is "wieldy" is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym "unwieldy" finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. "Wield" and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning "to control."
Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence
Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
The result is a system that makes traditional notions of childhood – with its unwieldy dependencies, its inefficient play and its demands for attention and care – increasingly untenable.
—Anna Mae Duane, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025
This slow, unwieldy process is also a factor pushing up the value of gold, albeit a temporary one.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
That movie was less a continuation of the series and more a takedown from within of Disney’s unwieldy superhero apparatus.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwieldy. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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unwieldy
adjective
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